Why can't we touch dogs?

I have no problem with not touching dogs.I know that it is permissible to have a dog to guard your house or to go hunting, but from what I've been taught, if we touch a dog(a wet one) or we touch its saliva, then we have to wash once with soil+water, and 6 times with normal water,like touching a pig.

The thing is, I get questions from people , why are we not allowed to touch dogs or have them as pets for reasons besides hunting and guarding the house? I don't know how to answer them..

Re: Why can't we touch dogs?

Originally Posted by wan81100

I have no problem with not touching dogs.I know that it is permissible to have a dog to guard your house or to go hunting, but from what I've been taught, if we touch a dog(a wet one) or we touch its saliva, then we have to wash once with soil+water, and 6 times with normal water,like touching a pig.

The thing is, I get questions from people , why are we not allowed to touch dogs or have them as pets for reasons besides hunting and guarding the house? I don't know how to answer them..

Tell them we are not supposed to do so because we are commanded by our Rabb, the most Wise, the All-Aware and we muslims should be of attitude 'we hear and we obey'.

Anway a lttle info I could add on is, you know the hadith which goes like this 'the angels of peace do not enter house wherein there is dog'. We muslims believe in it. One of the pillars of Islam is salah. Thats the best worship where a muslim prostrates to his Rabb admitting that he is a slave and begs Allah for His help and forgiveness admitting how weak a man is. Through prayers we get peace. Thus as definition of islam which also means peace, we muslims give importance to peace and our mind is in peaceful state through prayers. The dog's barking is found to affect the peaceful state of a mind. You can observe it when you hear its barking. It doesnt have good effect on you. We can clearly distinguish the difference we feel when we hear dog's barking and when we hear sound of a cat. The dogs barking is not just unpleasant but beyond that. It sometimes shakes our heart. Those who do meditation too dont prefer having dogs for the reason specified. What more evils for muslims from it, Allahu Alam as He created that animal and He knows its good and bad.

Re: Why can't we touch dogs?

Does touching a dog make one's hand naajis (impure)?

Is it haram or even undesireable for us to touch dogs? I have heard many Muslims say that dogs are dirty and Satan has spit on them. Also, that if we do touch a dog, we have to wash our hands several times. I haven't been able to find anything concerning this in the Qur'an, Hadith, or Islamic books. Please help.

Praise be to Allaah.

The answer to this question is twofold:
1 – The ruling on keeping a dog.

It is haraam to keep a dog unless it is for the purposes for which Islam permits keeping dogs. Whoever keeps a dog – except a dog for hunting or farming – his reward will decrease each day by one or two qeeraats.

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: ‘Whoever keeps a dog, except a dog that is trained for hunting or a dog for herding livestock, his reward will decrease each day by two qeeraats.’” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5059; Muslim, 2941; according to another version narrated by them both, “one qeeraat”).

The word qeeraat refers to a large amount of reward; if a person’s reward decreases by one qeeraat, that means that he is sinning, for losing reward is like earning sin, both indicate that something is haraam because of the consequences it leads to.

The impurity of dogs is the greatest of animal impurities. The impurity of a dog can only be removed by washing seven times, one of which should be with earth. Even pigs, which the Qur’aan states are haraam and describes as an abomination (rijs) are not naajis (impure) to such an extent.

Dogs are impure and filthy, but unfortunately we find that some people are attracted to the ways of the kuffaar and their filthy habits, so they have started to keep dogs unnecessarily for no reason, keeping them, training them and cleaning them even though they can never be clean, even if they were washed with the waters of the ocean, because they are essentially impure.

Our advice to them is to repent to Allaah and to get the dogs out of their homes.

But in the case of dogs which are needed for hunting, farming and herding livestock, there is nothing wrong with that because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) gave permission for that. If you throw this dog out of your house, you will no longer be responsible for it, so do not keep it with you.

2 – The ruling on touching a dog

If you touch it when it is not wet, then your hand does not become impure, but if you touch it when it is wet, this means that the hand becomes impure, according to the opinion of many scholars, and the hand must be washed seven times, one of which should be with earth.

With regard to vessels, if a dog has licked a vessel (i.e., drunk from it), then the vessel must be washed seven times, one of which should be with earth, as was proven in al-Saheehayn and elsewhere, in the hadeeth narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If a dog licks the vessel of any one of you, let him wash it seven times, one of which should be with earth.” It is better if the washing with earth be the first washing. And Allaah knows best.

"O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you swerve, and if you distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do." [An-Nisa 4:135]

The Prophet said:

"Whosoever leaves off obedience and separates from the Jamaa'ah and dies, he dies a death of jaahiliyyah. Whoever fights under the banner of the blind, becoming angry for 'asabiyyah (nationalism/tribalism/partisanship) or calling to 'asabiyyah, or assisting 'asabiyyah, then dies, he dies a death of jaahiliyyah."

muslim

Narrated 'Abdullah:

The Prophet, said, "Abusing a Muslim is Fusuq (evil doing) and killing him is Kufr (disbelief)." sahih bukhari

"Creeping upon you is the diseases of those people before you: envy and hatred. And hatred is the thing that shaves. I do not say it shaves the hair but it shaves the religion!

By the One in whose Hand is my soul, you will not enter paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Certainly, let me inform you of that which may establish such things: spread the greetings and peace among yourselves."

Re: Why can't we touch dogs?

This thread so soooooooooo interesting

I've always wondered why Dogs were frowned upon in Islam and now I have some hadiths to clarify why.

Praise be to Allaah.

According to Islaamic Sharee’ah, it is not permitted to keep a dog except within narrowly-defined limits, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) explained: "Whoever keeps a dog, his good deeds will decrease every day by one qeeraat (a unit of measurement), unless it is a dog for farming or herding." According to another report: ". . . unless it is a dog for herding sheep, farming or hunting." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, 2322)

Dogs are extremely naajis (impure, unclean). The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "If a dog drinks from the vessel of any one of you, let him wash it seven times" (reported by Muslim, no. 279). According to another report: ". . . and clean it the eighth time with earth." (Saheeh Muslim, no. 280).

It is forbidden in Islaam to sell a dog and to receive payment for it, as is reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaari from Abu Mas’oud al-Ansaari: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade (accepting) the price of a dog. (al-Fath, no. 2237)

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us not to resemble dogs by placing our forearms on the ground during sujood (prostration), as in reported in the hadeeth narrated by Anas ibn Maalik, according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Do sujood properly; none of you should spread his forearms like a dog does." (al-Bukhaari, Fath, no. 822).

Whoever keeps a dog in his house is denied the blessing of the angels’ presence in his house, as the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 3225).

Keeping dogs nowadays is the habit of the kuffaar, who adopt them as friends, kiss them, let them lick them and their clothes, sleep with them and even leave them money in their wills. Keeping a dog is an imitation of the kuffaar. Some Muslims may claim that they need to keep a dog at home for purposes of protection, to which we respond that nowadays there are burglar alarm systems and other measures one may take for security purposes, and there is no need to keep a dog, praise be to Allaah.

It only remains for us to say that the fact that it is forbidden to keep a dog and interect closely with it does not mean that we should not be kind or feel compassion towards dogs if we see them in a pitiful state. These are two entirely separate matters. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us that "a man saw a dog biting the dust because of thirst, so he took his shoe and started to scoop water up with it until the dog’s thirst was quenched. Allaah appreciated his good deed and granted him entry to Paradise for it." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, no. 174).

According to another report, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whilst a man was walking he became very thirsty, so he went down to a well and drank from it. When he came out, he saw a dog panting and biting the soil because of thirst. The man said, ‘He is suffering the same as I suffered,’ so he filled his shoe (with water), came out and let the dog drink until his thirst was quenched. Allaah appreciated his good deed and forgave him because of it." The people asked, "O Messenger of Allaah, will we be rewarded for how we treat animals?" He said, "In every living thing there is a reward." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, Fath, no. 2363).

We do not want to omit reminding you of the importance of reading the Qur’aan properly and referring to it. You say in your question that the story of the thirsty dog is in the Qur’aan, and that is not the case, as it is reported in the Sunnah.

Re: Why can't we touch dogs?

I just have a simple reason why it is best that we avoid keeping dogs at home even to guard our homes apart from what have been mentioned by some ahadiths. For those who have soft spot for dogs or animals in general, even if keeping dogs for the purpose to guard their homes, the tendency of making them as pets is always there, then you tend to touch them, play with them etc. especially kids.

Re: Why can't we touch dogs?

But remember, despite dogs being impure you shouldn't be mean to them! Plus if you get to know a dog enough, they'll keep their distance. When I babysat for these kids there was a dog. At first they'd have to lock it in a room since it would always try to come near me, but soon enough it would run around the house and would keep it's distance from me. The only time it would get a little close was when I'd feed her.

"...And never give up hope of Allah's Soothing Mercy: truly no one despairs of Allah's Soothing Mercy, except those who have no faith."
Surah Yusuf
[12:87].:.
.:. Perfer et Obdura : Dolor Hic Tibi Proderit Olim .:.
Be patient and strong : someday this pain will be useful to you.:....said the spider to the fly...

Re: Why can't we touch dogs?

Originally Posted by Pippin1376

But remember, despite dogs being impure you shouldn't be mean to them! Plus if you get to know a dog enough, they'll keep their distance. When I babysat for these kids there was a dog. At first they'd have to lock it in a room since it would always try to come near me, but soon enough it would run around the house and would keep it's distance from me. The only time it would get a little close was when I'd feed her.

Re: Why can't we touch dogs?

Yes, be kind to all of Allah's creatures

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 1:174, narrated by Abu Huraira. The Prophet said: "A man saw a dog eating mud from (the severity of) thirst. So, that man took a shoe (and filled it) with water and kept on pouring the water for the dog till it quenched its thirst. So Allah approved of his deed and made him to enter Paradise."

Re: Why can't we touch dogs?

Originally Posted by Supernova Nebula

I just have a simple reason why it is best that we avoid keeping dogs at home even to guard our homes apart from what have been mentioned by some ahadiths. For those who have soft spot for dogs or animals in general, even if keeping dogs for the purpose to guard their homes, the tendency of making them as pets is always there, then you tend to touch them, play with them etc. especially kids.

and even a guard dog will be kept outside in a kennel,and not in the house, as it is a working dog.

"O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you swerve, and if you distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do." [An-Nisa 4:135]

The Prophet said:

"Whosoever leaves off obedience and separates from the Jamaa'ah and dies, he dies a death of jaahiliyyah. Whoever fights under the banner of the blind, becoming angry for 'asabiyyah (nationalism/tribalism/partisanship) or calling to 'asabiyyah, or assisting 'asabiyyah, then dies, he dies a death of jaahiliyyah."

muslim

Narrated 'Abdullah:

The Prophet, said, "Abusing a Muslim is Fusuq (evil doing) and killing him is Kufr (disbelief)." sahih bukhari

"Creeping upon you is the diseases of those people before you: envy and hatred. And hatred is the thing that shaves. I do not say it shaves the hair but it shaves the religion!

By the One in whose Hand is my soul, you will not enter paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Certainly, let me inform you of that which may establish such things: spread the greetings and peace among yourselves."

Re: Why can't we touch dogs?

Can anyone explain to me why in surat al kahf "the cave" the people of teh cave actually slept with the will of allah for 309 years with their dog laying next to them!! since we the Quran explain to us how they were moved side to side in their sleep implicate the help of the angels during their sleep..

So we have a dog mentioned in the Quran, and the angels helping them in their sleep with the presence of the dog....

We hear that the presence of a dog in a house or a place prevent the angels from entering that place.... this does not hold true in Surat al Kahf as explained above...

Re: Why can't we touch dogs?

I heard that its something to do with Jinns? something about your house is not guarded if you keep a dog I'm not entirely sure :S before I reverted I had a big love of dogs and I see a lot of people who are scared of them! this confuses me because they are not dangerous usually in exception to those that are bred for fighting of course I think the only reason we cannot keep them is a hygeine reason really

Re: Why can't we touch dogs?

well the unclean part is true true true... urine and feces get on their coat and they uh.. lick themselves... down, boy...

so do cats, but you can still drink and make wudhu from water they drank from.

"O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you swerve, and if you distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that you do." [An-Nisa 4:135]

The Prophet said:

"Whosoever leaves off obedience and separates from the Jamaa'ah and dies, he dies a death of jaahiliyyah. Whoever fights under the banner of the blind, becoming angry for 'asabiyyah (nationalism/tribalism/partisanship) or calling to 'asabiyyah, or assisting 'asabiyyah, then dies, he dies a death of jaahiliyyah."

muslim

Narrated 'Abdullah:

The Prophet, said, "Abusing a Muslim is Fusuq (evil doing) and killing him is Kufr (disbelief)." sahih bukhari

"Creeping upon you is the diseases of those people before you: envy and hatred. And hatred is the thing that shaves. I do not say it shaves the hair but it shaves the religion!

By the One in whose Hand is my soul, you will not enter paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Certainly, let me inform you of that which may establish such things: spread the greetings and peace among yourselves."